Will McCain Resolve Conflicting Advice, Or Will He Explode?

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 01:54:00 AM EST
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You may recall the Star Trek episode in which Captain Kirk and his crewmates are captured by attractive androids who are also imprisoning Harry Mudd. Kirk subjects the android-in-chief to the Liar's Paradox. "Everything I say is a lie," Kirk tells the android. Followed by, "I am lying." Smoke emits from the android's ears as it devotes its full computing power to a conundrum that does not compute. Eventually the android freezes up and the good guys escape.

John McCain is in danger of crashing in much the same way, for much the same reason. To win in Colorado, McCain needs to hit hard on Ayers and Wright. Or so he's being told by the state party chairman, Dick Wadhams.

[more ...]

Wadhams urged Mr. McCain to hit the issue hard, arguing that it was fair game and could be highly effective in raising questions about Mr. Obama in the final weeks of the campaign. He said he was surprised Mr. McCain had failed to do so in the debate last week.

McCain needs to color Colorado red, so will he listen to Wadhams? Wait a second, there's someone on the other line.

Fergus Cullen, the Republican chairman in New Hampshire, said Saturday that he thought it would be a mistake for Mr. McCain to go down that road, warning that it would turn off moderate voters in his state who have a history of supporting Mr. McCain.
“I don’t think he should be giving into elements of the base who have been asking him to be going after, using Wright, using Ayers,” Mr. Cullen said. “Think about it as an undecided persuadable voter.”

McCain needs New Hampshire too. What to do ... be nasty in Colorado, nice in New Hampshire? Send the moose shooter out to Colorado to do the dirty work while he condemns negative campaigning in New Hampshire?

You can just barely see the smoke floating up from John McCain's ears.

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Will McCain Resolve Conflicting Advice, Or Will He Explode? | 14 comments (14 topical)

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Every campaign has these conundrums (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by ruffian on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 06:50:36 AM EST

It's just that we can see McCain's gears turning. The man is not a good campaigner.

Wadhams is the sleaziest thing to crawl out from under a rock since Lee Atwater. Has been for a while. McCain should have just hired Rove if he is listening to Wadhams at all.

It is sad for mccain (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by kenosharick on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 07:11:49 AM EST

that his only chance (and small at that) is to go hugely negative, which despite the Obama camp and media whining, has not really happened yet. This campaign (with small exceptions) has been mild compared to the past. The mccain campaign saw how the media evicerated Hillary for the slightest negative comments and that may be holding them back a bit.

: Hasn't happened yet? WTF? (none / 0) (#13)
by EddieInCA on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 12:13:59 PM EST

Are you implying that McCain/Palin can do worse than "Scary, Angry, Black, Socialist Muslim who pals around with unrepentant terrorist while listening to his America-Hating Angry, Black Pastor, while married to his America-Hating, Angry, Black, elitist, terrorist-loving wife"
Seriously? Where else is there to go short of just flat out calling him the N-word?

oh please! (none / 0) (#1)
by thereyougo on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 01:42:58 AM EST

McCain's 'hits' are more like lashes with wet noodles!

He's lost, will somebody tell him?

Obama is not the reason its mccain/+failin'

they're they own worse enemy. Somebody give them a

reality check, sheesh!

"It ain't over (none / 0) (#2)
by themomcat on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 01:51:46 AM EST

until the fat lady sings" That'll be on Nov.4. I have little faith in the voters to vote in their own best interest, despite of the economic crisis.


Then we should (none / 0) (#3)
by CoralGables on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 02:05:22 AM EST

speed the process and let her sing

Fat Lady Singing


After 2 years (none / 0) (#4)
by themomcat on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 02:17:48 AM EST

of wrangling candidates, i just wish we could shorten the process.


I think we lost a good thing (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by Cream City on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 03:04:06 AM EST

when we won the American Revolution. With Bush, I've become fond of the British process -- the part about no set terms. Imagine if we could have just formed a new government and pushed him out years ago.


On the other hand... (none / 0) (#7)
by lentinel on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 06:12:52 AM EST

Americans have forgotten all about the revolution.
They are more and more comfortable with the idea of a monarchy now.


: Corporate monarchy (none / 0) (#8)
by Thanin on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 06:23:33 AM EST

Now That Was Funny (none / 0) (#11)
by john horse on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 07:50:13 AM EST

Good one CG.


perhaps this explains mccain's wandering debate (none / 0) (#6)
by pluege on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 03:54:13 AM EST

As mccain wandered the debate stage last Tuesday seemingly not knowing where he was, where he was going, or what he was doing, he was probably trying to figure out his Colorado - New Hampshire conundrum...or just as likely he was thinking of Star Trek and Captain Kirk's liar's paradox.

How Is McCain Going To Run Our Country (none / 0) (#12)
by john horse on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 08:56:19 AM EST

when he doesn't even know how to run his own campaign?

He can't stay on message because he can't decide what the message is. Nothing he proposes seems to be thought out (even his choice for VP seemed more like an afterthought). His "government is the problem, not the solution" philosophy is in conflict with reality so he can't run on the issues. He is in the same political party as George W Bush (fool me once, shame on you . . . fool me three times and you must be a McCain voter)

TChris is right. It does not compute.

Oh, Johnny Maverick... (none / 0) (#14)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 12:28:31 PM EST

should definately listen to Wad Dickhams--the man who has done more than anyone in recent memory to tarnish the Republican brand in Colorado.

JSM3 should take the advice of the guy who has alienated the press all across the state with his course, bullying, arrogant ways. The one who has all but assured that "Boulder liberal" Mark Udall will be our next Senator with his reliance on negative attack ads.

Go for it John!